Diplomats: Nuclear negotiations with Iran nearing deal

New York Times

Published 11:00 pm, Sunday, July 12, 2015

Vienna

Negotiators from Iran and six world powers are getting closer to a landmark agreement that would limit Tehran's nuclear ability for more than a decade in return for sanctions relief, diplomats said Sunday.

If the final issues are resolved, the accord could be formally announced Monday, they added.

Yet diplomats from several nations also cautioned that not all of the issues had been ironed out, and they added that the final terms of the anticipated agreement would still need to be approved by President Barack Obama, the Iranian leadership and top officials in Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia.

Still, Secretary of State John Kerry sounded an unusually optimistic note Sunday, noting that he had had a fruitful negotiating session late Saturday night with Mohammad Javad Zarif, his Iranian counterpart.

"We had a very good meeting," Kerry said as he left to attend Mass at St. Stephen's Cathedral. "Positive. I think we're getting to some real decisions. So I will say, because we have a few tough things to do, I remain hopeful. Hopeful."